KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The paramilitary Central reserve Police Force (CRPF) Sunday evening issued a statement on the incident which led to the death of one, Gowhar Nazir Dar, late Saturday evening. It is being produced verbatim for the interest of the readers:
This is with reference to various news reports in different news papers and electronic media, regarding death of one youth on 7 November evening during clashes at Zainakote, Srinagar.
First of all, 44 bn CRPF was not deployed in that area and otherwise also don’t perform duties there, as their companies are deployed elsewhere. It is the unit hq of 44 bn which is housed at HMT complex in Zainakote.
On 7th November there were no restrictions in that area and no troops of 44 bn was deployed in that area except at the gate of unit hq. There was continuous stone pelting on camp of 44 bn CRPF since morning and CRPF maintained highest restraint and even didn’t use tear smoke.
But in the evening intensity of stone pelting increased. At about 4.30 pm there was severe stone pelting on camp in which 3 men of 44 bn got injured. Youth also threw petrol bomb targeting the camp. Still CRPF was dealing with it tactfully and no force was used.
But the crowd increased and became more violent. Some youth even displaced the concertina coils placed at boundary of camp for security and also demolished a part of boundary wall. In the meantime police also reached the spot.
That unruly mob even tried to barge in to the camp, then sensing the breach in camp security, CRPF & police jointly tried to disperse them by using mild force. But when stone pelting continued from two sides, then that party used some tear smoke to disperse the mob.
CRPF didn’t fire even a single live bullet, even in the air, as reported in some papers/media. As par the sop, CRPF used only minimum force and fired only 19 shells of tear smoke.
CRPF strictly follow the drill to deal with such law and order problems, even though at times protests become highly violent. At Zainakote also, CRPF used only minimum force in the form of tear smoke only. However we also regret the loss of life of youth.
We are also not sure that the youth got such grievous injury by hit of the shell, he might got hit by the stone only. However, only experts can tell this, after examining the place, direction and gravity of injury.
However we have issued directions to all CRPF formations to be more careful while firing shells or rubber bullets. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered so if anybody from CRPF is found to be at fault then strict disciplinary action will be taken. (Credit: KNS)
